Legal Definitions - conusance

Definition: Conusance (kon-yuh-zuhnts) is an old-fashioned word that means jurisdiction or legal authority. It can also refer to an acknowledgment of a debt, act, or opposing claim.

• When a court has conusance over a case, it means that it has the power to hear and decide that case.
• In a land transfer by fine, the grantee may make an acknowledgment of conusance, which means they are acknowledging that they have the legal right to the land.
• In a replevin case, the defendant may make an acknowledgment of conusance that they took the goods that are being sued for.

These examples illustrate how conusance can be used to refer to legal authority or an acknowledgment of a legal claim. In each case, the person making the acknowledgment is admitting to the legal authority of the court or acknowledging the legal rights of another party.